[160] A common custom; e.g. in the case of a little child lying dangerously ill, its mother will go outside the door into the garden or field, and call out its name several times, in the hope of bringing back the wandering spirit.
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[161] This process must be regularly gone through night and morning, otherwise the bandages become loose, and the gait of the walker unsteady.
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[162] I have explained before that any great disparity of means is considered an obstacle to a matrimonial alliance between two families.
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[163] This is a not unusual arrangement in cases where there are other sons in the bridegroom’s family, but none in that of the bride’s, especially if the advantage of wealth is on the side of the latter.
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[164] Such is the Chinese rule, adopted simply with a view to the preservation of harmony.
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[165] They are supposed never to see each other before the wedding-day; but, after careful investigation of the subject, I have come to the conclusion that certainly in seven cases out of ten, the intended bridegroom secretly procures a sight of his future wife. I am now speaking of the higher classes; among the poor, both sexes mix almost as freely as with us.
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[166] This would still be considered a creditable act on the part of a Chinese widow. It is, however, of exceedingly rare occurrence.
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[167] Being nearly dead from hanging.
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[168] This is occasionally done, great influence or a heavy bribe being brought to bear upon the Examiners, of whom there are only two for the Master’s degree, and the second of these, or Assistant-Examiner, holds but a subordinate position. See [Appendix A], and No. LXXV., [note 71].
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[169] Admission to the Han-lin, or Chinese National Academy, is the highest honour obtainable by a scholar. Its members are employed in drawing up Government documents, histories, etc.
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